Fitbit Versa Smartwatch Review

Fitbit Versa In Transient

For anybody who’s not taking their health actually severely (like, triathlete severe), I feel Fitbits are your best option for exercise monitoring in addition to recording runs and time spent within the gymnasium. And Fitbit’s second stab at a touchscreen smartwatch has taken an enormous step ahead in what else it provides. There’s slick offline integration with music streaming service Deezer and the primary excessive road financial institution coming onto Fitbit Pay. I’d wager that the Versa shall be as common as Fitbit’s largest smash, the Cost 2.

Score ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5)

£200 | Purchase on fitbit.com | Examine worth on Amazon

Issues we favored

It’s a Fitbit, so meaning good exercise monitoring, glorious sleep monitoring and nice use of the info from the center price monitor, to call however a number of advantages of going with this model.

Battery life that’s among the many finest at school amongst smartwatches across the £200 mark.

The Deezer app is slick and makes it simple to load up tracks to hearken to on the Versa.

Android customers can now arrange fast replies to texts and messages from companies like Fb Messenger and WhatsApp.

It seems to be nice and there are many further premium bands accessible to gussy it up much more.

Fitbit’s swim monitoring’s been dramatically improved with the addition of size counting and stroke recognition.

Integration of the Fitbit Coach exercise app is nicely carried out and may information you thru loads of classes.

Issues we didn’t like

I discovered utilizing the assisted GPS a faff. It’s finest to sync the Versa with the app when making an attempt to get a GPS sign however even then you definately may be ready some time.

The mechanism for altering the strap is fiddly.

As with the Ionic (Fitbit’s top-end smartwatch), streaming music from the Versa to Bluetooth headphones could be a contact uneven from time to time.

The app providing nonetheless doesn’t come near the likes of Apple iOS or Android Put on OS.

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Fitbit Versa In Depth

Utilizing The Fitbit Versa To Monitor Exercise

Fitbit has nailed monitoring your each day exercise and the Versa performs in the identical method because the Ionic and Cost 2 by monitoring steps with an accelerometer and flooring climbed with an altimeter. Every metric has each day targets, and badges accessible for all-time highs over 24 hours and cumulatively over your lifetime. There may be additionally an hourly step goal of 250 to hit to make sure you’re staying cellular all through the day.

There are additionally challenges leaderboards, solo adventures the place your steps take you personal well-known routes (just like the NYC marathon) and unlock vistas, or journey races the place you nearly race a good friend round a well-known route together with your steps.

The Versa additionally retains observe of your lively minutes, including up any train you file and logging any interval of reasonable exercise, like strolling, mechanically.

It’s a compelling mixture of monitoring and motivational options. In the event you’re actually solely after one thing to see how usually lively you’re you gained’t be upset (though if that’s solely what you’re after, the Fitbit Cost 2 will do all that for a significantly decrease price).

Utilizing The Fitbit Versa For Working Out

There are a variety of exercise choices to pick out on the Versa, 19 in whole, seven of which may be loaded onto the Versa. The gym-based ones embrace weights exercise, exercise and circuit, however they’re completely different in title solely. They may all observe length and coronary heart price, utilizing the latter to estimate your calorie burn. The dwell monitoring display reveals three metrics without delay: two smaller numbers on the highest and backside that are static (though you’ll be able to change them within the settings on the watch simply earlier than you begin) and a bigger center metric that’s an editable checklist you’ll be able to scroll by by swiping or utilizing the Versa’s left-hand button. Thank goodness Fitbit included the latter. Anybody who’s tried to manage a touchscreen after they’re a sweaty mess gasping for air will know having an enormous fats button to press is a blessed aid.

There are additionally choices for cardio machines just like the treadmill, elliptical, stair climber and train bike (known as spinning within the app), however these additionally simply observe length, coronary heart price, energy burned and, the place applicable, steps and due to this fact distance. Conspicuous by its absence is a mode for rowing machines however so far as I can see there’s no cause to not simply use the overall exercise monitoring mode.

The Versa does have an intervals mode, which many opponents don’t embrace. It’s bonkers to not have it frankly – it’s one of many options I exploit essentially the most. The Versa’s model is nicely carried out, though it’s important to set the length of labor and relaxation intervals, and repetitions within the app then sync it over. That is fast and simple to do, however it could be faster and simpler if it may very well be carried out on the gadget itself. I additionally advocate turning the gadget’s vibration degree to robust in settings, as a result of there’s nothing worse than working right into a relaxation interval.

The Versa additionally comes preloaded with Fitbit Coach, a subscription app (an additional £30 a 12 months) that could be well worth the expenditure. We tried one of many three free pattern body weight exercises and it was a satisfying circuit that demoed every train on display earlier than main me by work and relaxation intervals. The premium providing seems to be promising, with a variety of body weight exercises that apparently may be personalised, in addition to run and stroll teaching. We’ll replace our evaluate as soon as we’ve had an opportunity to familiarize yourself with it.

So far as I’m involved the Versa is nearly as good a wrist tracker for health lessons and gymnasium work that you simply’ll discover. It doesn’t try and depend reps, however I haven’t tried a tracker that nails the accuracy and usefulness of this creating characteristic but.

Utilizing The Fitbit Versa For Operating

In the event you’re a runner, even a causal one, and also you’re shopping for a health tracker it’s price getting a tool with GPS so you may get correct distance, elevation and tempo stats (and get on Strava). The large change between Fitbit’s first smartwatch, the Ionic, and the Versa is the change from a built-in GPS chip to assisted GPS, the place the Versa has to connect with your smartphone to amass a sign (similar to with the Cost 2). Whereas I desire working and not using a telephone you solely need to look out for folks holding their telephone in a single hand whereas working or carrying an armband telephone holder to see most are pleased to hold one alongside.

I believed this assisted GPS would have made it faster for the Versa to lock on to a sign, however I discovered the Versa takes simply as lengthy, if not longer than the Ionic, to discover a sign. It appears to assist you probably have the Fitbit app open in your telephone and sync it with the watch, however even then I spent longer than I used to be proud of standing in place tapping my ft impatiently.

Whereas the Versa is meant to have the Run Detect characteristic, which mechanically acknowledges a run and fires up the GPS, it didn’t work for me on two check runs. It’s an actual disgrace as a result of it’s considered one of my favorite options on the Ionic.

Past these frustrations, although, the Versa has every little thing I’d need in a run tracker, and I wager it is going to fulfill the overwhelming majority of runners too. The mid-exercise display may be customised with a static high and backside stat of elapsed time, length, tempo, common tempo, coronary heart price (which is colour-coded so you’ll be able to see which coronary heart price zone you’re in), energy burned, steps, time of day or lap time, and you may select which of these metrics shall be proven giant in the midst of display. You may also set the display to be all the time on (though it will drain the battery quicker).

The stats are all properly displayed afterwards within the app, together with a map of your route, splits and time spent in several coronary heart price zones. It doesn’t embrace info on cadence – like Samsung, Garmin and others do – but when cadence actually issues to you I think about you’ll be higher served by a devoted working watch. Most significantly, at the least for me, it exports easily and rapidly to Strava.

I additionally sometimes run intervals so was delighted to see the inclusion of GPS within the interval characteristic. Nonetheless, there’s no tempo stat accessible on this mode. Positive, I might go off my coronary heart price for work intervals, however I discover tempo a lot simpler and there’s no cause I can consider why it wouldn’t be included. Fingers crossed this shall be included in Fitbit’s third smartwatch.

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Utilizing The Fitbit Versa For Biking

Like most health trackers with GPS, the Versa’s providing for cyclists is similar to that for runners, minus the steps. It really works for informal cyclists, particularly commuters, however dedicated riders will need to look elsewhere, particularly as a result of the Versa gained’t hook up with issues like energy meters.

The Versa consists of Fitbit’s automated train recognition characteristic. This gained’t set off GPS however it is going to log the exercise, hold tabs in your coronary heart price and contribute to your lively minutes tally. I used to be shocked that the Versa struggled to take care of Fitbit’s usually correct requirements. On one event my 40-minute commute by bike was logged at simply over an hour and pushing a pram was additionally logged as a motorbike experience (to be truthful, although, my wrist was in an analogous place to holding handlebars).

Utilizing The Fitbit Versa For Swimming

The Ionic was the primary Fitbit with a display that was waterproof, however at launch the providing was a bit naked bones, simply monitoring time and energy burnt within the pool. Now, the providing’s a lot improved and the Versa can depend lengths, measure your coronary heart price and recognise several types of strokes – even my far-from-perfect ones.

That’s all great things however maybe the largest enchancment is a tiny one. The size of the pool setting has gone from a number of pre-programmed choices to being customisable to as little as 10 metres – fairly vital in case your favoured pool is the tiny one in your gymnasium. My closest one, as an illustration, is a random 13 metres, which the Versa can now deal with.

For my part there’s nonetheless somewhat strategy to go by way of characteristic earlier than it’s proper up there with one of the best waterproof trackers. A SWOLF rating which provides a sign of your effectivity could be helpful, as an illustration, however the Versa has a a lot improved characteristic set and individuals who prefer to hold match of their native pool will welcome this addition.

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Utilizing The Fitbit Versa As A Coronary heart Price Monitor

The Versa’s coronary heart price monitor unlocks numerous Fitbit’s finest options, together with sleep monitoring, a greater estimate of calorie burn, resting coronary heart price and your cardio health rating (one thing akin to VO2 max) – the final two are each good measures of your total health.

The cardio health rating particularly is an especially helpful characteristic. Not solely will Fitbit put you on a spectrum so you’ll be able to see the way you examine with different demographically comparable athletes, it suggests how a lot you’d enhance if begin doing sure issues like exercising recurrently. To my thoughts that’s a severely nicely designed and extremely motivating service that no different health tracker model provides.

By way of accuracy, I discovered that the Versa has the identical situation all Fitbits, and to a larger or lesser extent, all wrist-worn trackers have – struggling to maintain up with fast modifications (as an illustration, when working intervals) and once you’re working at your peak. As I feel this can be a tracker that’s suited to a variety of health ranges, that’s not a lot of an issue, but when a extra correct studying is vital for you look elsewhere, particularly because the Versa gained’t pair with a coronary heart price strap.

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Utilizing The Fitbit Versa To Hear To Music

One of many large new options launched with the Versa has been integration with Deezer, a music streaming service and Spotify rival. Every Versa comes with a three-month Deezer premium subscription (usually £10 a month) that permits you to save music to your watch and play with out an web connection. And it’s surprisingly simple to do that. On the smartphone or desktop app, you merely star a observe and the subsequent time your Versa is plugged in and related to WiFi it syncs the music over each time with out fail. That’s virtually Apple-grade ease of use.

As somebody whose bodily (together with within the sense of music recordsdata on an area onerous drive) music assortment has dwindled over time, this has been one thing of a revelation. It brings the Versa into line with the music streaming options Samsung and Put on OS gadgets supply with Spotify and Google Play apps. Is there any distinction between Deezer and Spotify? In all probability, however not that I seen.

There’s additionally a Fitbit participant which lets you switch audio recordsdata you personal to the watch. You’ll must obtain a Fitbit program to a pc, which can then sync to the gadget over WiFi. I discovered it simple sufficient (simply not as simple as with Deezer) to arrange and switch recordsdata over, and there’s house for round 300 songs.

Bluetooth headphones join simply to the gadget, however from time to time I discovered that the streaming bought somewhat uneven, as if some gremlin was quickly urgent pause and play. These points resolved themselves rapidly and weren’t too frequent however it might get fairly irritating after I was making an attempt to match my stride to the beat. Nonetheless, if you happen to’re working with assisted GPS you’ll be able to all the time play music off your telephone and it’s higher than having your ears assaulted by your gymnasium’s playlist.

Utilizing The Fitbit Versa For Sleep Monitoring

The Fitbit Versa has the identical sleep monitoring options as any Fitbit with a coronary heart price monitor, which suggests the sleep monitoring is top-notch. You’ll get a breakdown of time spent in gentle, deep and REM sleep, though sometimes I woke to seek out the Versa hadn’t been in a position to get a ok studying so I simply bought a complete time studying – the primary time this had occurred to me carrying a Fitbit.

The killer characteristic that units Fitbit aside from the competitors is evaluating the breakdown of your sleep towards different Fitbit customers (who’re legion) in your demographic. The profit is which you can see if it’s price spending a while making an attempt to enhance the standard, somewhat than simply length, of your sleep. The app additionally provides a number of suggestions, however in fact there’s loads of recommendation on the market on how to do that.

Importantly, the Versa can be gentle sufficient and sufficiently small to really feel snug on the wrist whilst you sleep, and the battery life means you not often need to determine between monitoring your sleep or charging it.

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Utilizing the Fitbit Versa As A Smartwatch

The Versa provides the standard notifications relayed out of your smartphone. It’ll buzz when one thing is available in or you’ll be able to swipe down from the highest of the display to see the final 15 notifications. You do need to do a little bit of handbook set-up although, going into the app and turning on notifications from every app. Confusingly at first, every app gained’t seem on the checklist till it’s despatched you a notification in your telephone after you arrange your Versa.

By way of controlling your smartphone, considered one of our markers of a real smartwatch (however one thing that’s not often achieved except the producer of telephone and wearable are the identical), the Versa will will let you reply calls in your telephone and now permits folks with Android telephones to arrange 5 fast replies of 60 characters or much less to ping again to texts or messages from apps like WhatsApp and Fb Messenger. We haven’t had an opportunity to do that so we are able to neither verify nor deny which you can load up your favorite “welp” GIF.

Conventional health tracker producers like Fitbit and Garmin wrestle to supply as many, and as many high-quality, apps as Apple or a smartwatch constructed on Put on OS (Google’s Android for wearables). Fitbit’s app providing has slowly bought higher however it nonetheless lags method behind what I need. The large gamers who’ve come on board embrace Strava (though it solely shows stripped down stats from recorded actions), the New York Instances (restricted to headlines and one sentence on ten tales), Starbucks (which places a fee loyalty card in your wrist) and a controller for Philips Hue good gentle bulbs.

There are different smaller builders making apps of various high quality and usefulness. Some are a crapshoot, however issues like a Pomodoro timer (a well-known productiveness protocol the place you’re employed in 25-minute bursts) is beneficial.

There are additionally loads of watch faces to select from, together with the toddler-friendly pet cat (or canine) which you feed with steps. It’s like a Tamagotchi for the wellness age.

Fitbit Pay, launched with the Ionic, has seen an virtually full failure to launch within the UK. Whereas main banks within the US are on board, till just lately solely challenger banks Starling and Danske supplied it. Santander has signed up now, so right here’s hoping it takes off so you can also make contactless funds out of your gadget.

How Typically Am I Going To Have To Cost It?

Not that always – possibly twice every week if you happen to use all of the options. Fitbit quotes 4 days however I discovered it simply stretched to 6 days after we weren’t utilizing assisted GPS or music and turned off all notifications.

As soon as I began correctly testing it I used up 90% of the battery over 4 days and three nights, which included the next: a seven-minute exercise utilizing the Fitstar app; a 20-minute exercise; a 15-minute swim; a 36-minute bike experience with out GPS; one hour 35 minutes of biking utilizing assisted GPS; shut to 2 hours of streaming Deezer; and common WhatsApp notifications. In the event you ask me, that’s rather a lot. The Samsung Gear Fit2 Professional can barely get by a day with out utilizing any options, ditto the Mobvoi Ticwatch S.

Charging from zero to full takes about an hour and a half and, in a change to Fitbit’s typical leads, the Versa makes use of a cradle with spring-loaded facet clips that holds the Versa securely in place.

The place Can I Put on It With out Folks Laughing At Me?

In all places. It’s much more trendy than its forerunner the Ionic, due to a slimmer, sq. black physique (though the display is off-centre to accommodate the Fitbit emblem). There are additionally many extra interchangeable bands accessible, from the usual rubber band (black, white, gray, peach and periwinkle, the latter a lavender-esque hue, £25 every), to leather-based (cognac, lavender, midnight blue and saddle sew, £50 every), to steel bands (£70-£90, black steel mesh FTW).

The tiny bolts that connect the watch to the straps aren’t as simple to make use of because the mechanisms on different Fitbits, which can make having completely different straps for various events and actions irritating.

Ought to I Think about Shopping for One thing Else?

There are actually numerous activity-tracking smartwatches across the £200 mark accessible however I feel the Versa is the choose of the bunch due to its superlative monitoring chops and battery life, in addition to its bettering good options. The Samsung Gear Fit2 Professional has higher swim monitoring and good options, however can’t compete in total monitoring and battery life. The Mobvoi Ticwatch S is the neatest smartwatch with loads of apps and an in-built microphone for “OK Google” instructions, however its exercise monitoring doesn’t match up and the battery gained’t final a day. I’ve but to strive the Suunto three Health however it’s shaping as much as be extra of a training-focused providing.

I feel the trickiest determination might come when selecting between this and one other Fitbit. Whereas the Cost 2 is an older mannequin and doesn’t supply swim monitoring or the smartwatch options, you should not have any hassle discovering it for £100. And if seems to be aren’t that vital to you you’ll most likely be capable to discover the Ionic for £250 for much less. And since it shares the identical working system because the Versa, you’ll get all the identical options in addition to having the ability to go away your telephone behind on a run.